Asian markets rise on tech momentum and stabilizing bond yields

Asian stock markets trended upward on Wednesday, driven largely by gains in the technology sector and a stabilization in US bond yields. The Nikkei 225 led the gains with a 1.81% increase, while the Topix rose 1.58%. In mainland China, the CSI 300 saw a 0.15% rise, and the Kosdaq in South Korea increased by 0.84%, though the Kospi fell 0.38%.

SoftBank Group saw a significant jump of over 6% following reports that OpenAI, in which the group has invested, is seeking a new funding round with a potential valuation of $1.4 trillion. The MSCI Asia Pacific index rose by 0.9%, with gains seen in 10 of its 11 sectors.

In the United States, bond yields showed signs of stabilization after a period of intense selling. The 10-year Treasury yield remained near 5.23%, following recent spikes that saw the 30-year yield exceed 5.6%—levels not seen since 2002. Investors remain focused on upcoming US inflation data for clues regarding future Federal Reserve interest rate decisions. Meanwhile, Brent crude oil prices fell below $100, trading at approximately $96.24 per barrel.